Credit Repair

So, you’ve got a credit score of 588. Now you’re left wondering if it’s good or bad. Lower numbers communicate to lenders that you’re a risky investment. This informs whether or not they approve you for loans or credit cards.

If your score falls below 619, FICO says you have “poor” credit. You’ll receive high-interest rates if approved at all. The best option? Understand the situation and work to improve it.

Credit Score of 588: Home Loans

Is it possible?

PROBABLY NOT — You need a credit score above 620 to secure a reasonable mortgage.

If you have a credit score of 588, you likely won’t get approved by most lenders. On the chance you do, expect to pay interest rates as high as 5-6%. Loans through the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) are your best bet, but it’s still a long shot.

Credit Score of 588: Car Loans

Is it possible?

YES — You can definitely buy a car with this score, but you’re going to pay for it.

Lenders may approve your application, but it’ll be accompanied by a high-interest rate. Honestly, it’s a good idea to wait on these loans and focus on raising your score.

Just 70 points make a huge difference…

In 2018, the average amount borrowed for an auto loan is $31,099. However, that number is just one half of the equation. To give you a better idea of how a high-interest rate affects you, let’s look at an example.

Below, you’ll see the 3 most common auto loans: 60-month, 48-month, and 36-month. For each type, there’s a comparison between someone with a credit score of 588 and 648.

Loan Type

Credit Score

Annual Rate

Monthly Payment

Total Added Cost

36-month new auto

588

15.867%

$1,091

$2,986

648

10.334%

$1,008

–

48-month new auto

588

15.865%

$879

$4,080

648

10.364%

$794

–

60-month new auto

588

15.938%

$755

$5,266

648

10.438%

$667

–

Credit Score of 588: Credit Cards

What’s the best credit card for a score of 588?

OPTIONS ARE OUT THERE — It’s difficult to get approved with a low score, but possible.

At 588, credit card companies see that you’re just shy of an average score. For this reason, you may be able to qualify for both secure AND unsecured cards.

Here are a few recommendations:

Card Name

Annual Rate

Annual Fee

Secured/Unsecured

Credit One Bank Visa

17.49% – 25.49% (Variable)

$99

Unsecured

Milestone Gold Mastercard

23.90%

$35-$99

Unsecured

Open Sky Secured Visa

18.64% (Variable)

$35

Secured

Discover it® Secured Card

24.49% (Variable)

$0

Secured

How To Improve A Credit Score of 588

Improving a credit score of 588 to something over 620 should become the main priority. Good credit makes so many things easier, and a bit of diligence will raise your score in no time.

For many, the process may feel overwhelming. Here are a few tips for getting started…

Be smart when shopping for a loan. Don’t apply for several loans or credit card in a row, as this can hurt your score. Also, avoid getting in over your head with how much you owe.

Payback your credit on time. Lenders like knowing that they’re going to get their money on-time, every time. If you show your ability to pay, the score will rise.

Find someone to help you. If small improvements aren’t raising your score fast enough, consider getting some professional help from a credit repair company like Go Clean Credit.

You can do it!

Let the experts atGo Clean Credit help you increase your score by more than 200 points! Our credit repair programs put you back on the path to financial success. Contact Go Clean Credit today!

Having a credit score of 524 means that you have some work to do. Ranked squarely in the lowest tier of scores, you are facing elevated interest rates on any loans and credit you are able to obtain—or rejection from them all together.

There is confusion on how credit scores actually affect car and home loans and credit cards. Will the interest rates be too high for me? Will I just be rejected? Luckily, it’s all answered below.

1. Home Loans

For a first time home buyer with a credit score of 524, you will most definitely be fighting an uphill battle. The majority of loans will reject you outright as your score is lower than their usual threshold of 620 by almost 100 points.

If you do find a loan that is willing to take you, the lower your score, the more that your interest rate skyrockets. With a score that low, the amount of interest you pay on the house could be upwards of half the principal loan, a lofty price to pay for poor credit.

Increasing your score is going to be your best bet to getting a decent home loan. It may take a couple years to fix and it will be frustrating, but even 100 more points on your credit score can improve your chances drastically and knock an interest percentage upwards of 2%!

2. Auto Loans

Car loans are similar in terms of interest rates and possible rejection through conventional means, but a car loan will be at least easier to find. The rates may once again be too high for you to consider this a viable choice, though.

Using the average $27,000 dollars for a car loan and a 60-month loan, a score of 524 could land you an average APR of upwards of nearly 16% and an interest over the life of loan of nearly $12,000 extra dollars!

Once again, it is in your best interest to improve your score or you may fall victim to predatory lending.

3. Credit Cards

Credit cards are not going to be easy to come by, either. This is the unfortunate fact of having a low score. Honestly, obtaining an unsecured credit card will probably be impossible. However, unsecured credit cards, or ones where you must make a deposit to obtain, will be beneficial to improving your score.

Your score may even jump by opening the card. And if you pay off your debt on time every month, the number will continue to climb.

So What To Do?

You will need to improve your score to be put into a more comfortable position. You may be able to get loans, but the interest rates will be high and could nearly double your loan… Start with a secured credit card and work your way up and pay on time every month. You’ll be glad you did.

Let the experts atGo Clean Credit help you increase your score by more than 200 points! Our credit repair programs put you back on the path to financial success. Contact Go Clean Credit today!

So your credit score is 578 – is that good or bad? What does a credit score of 578 say about you? Your credit score reflects your ability to fulfill fiscal responsibility. The lower your credit score is, the larger your risk of having to make a big deposit before making home and auto purchases.

A credit score of 578 falls under the “Poor” FICO category. Scores below 619 often receive the most severe interest rates and terms on credit and loans. The effects can damage a person’s pursuit of happiness. You want to improve your credit score so that you are paying less for borrowing money.

What does having a credit score of 578 mean for home loans, car loans, and credit cards? How do you improve a 578 credit score?

Credit Score of 578: Home Loans

Is it possible?

PROBABLY NOT — For most mortgages, you need to be above a 620 credit score.

Generally speaking, with a score under 578, you may not qualify for mortgages with many lenders. If you do, you should anticipate interest rates ranging from 5-6%. There are a few loans out there, such as those administered by the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA loans”). However, it can still be tough.

The frustration gets real when it comes to housing loans.

Credit Score of 578: Car Loans

Is it possible?

YES — buying a car with a credit score of 578 is still possible, but the interest rate can be pretty high. People with bad credit are always offered higher interest rates than someone with a score only 70 points higher.

The average amount borrowed by auto buyers in 2018 has risen to a record high of $31,099. Here are the cost differences for 3 common types of auto loans accessible in myFICO’s loan savings calculator — 36-month, 48-month, and 60-month new auto loans — between someone with a credit score of 578 and someone with a score of 648.

Loan Type

Credit Score

Annual Rate

Monthly Payment

Total Added Cost

36-month new auto

578

15.867%

$1,091

$2,986

648

10.334%

$1,008

–

48-month new auto

578

15.865%

$879

$4,080

648

10.364%

$794

–

60-month new auto

578

15.938%

$755

$5,266

648

10.438%

$667

–

Can you believe that a 70-point difference in credit scores results in a difference of $5,266 in auto payment? Don’t let your wallet bleed. If your score changed to a 648 — just a 70-point improvement — you would save thousands of dollars.

Credit Score of 578: Credit Cards

What’s the best credit card for a score of 578?

OPTIONS ARE OUT THERE — If your credit score is a 578, you are only a little short of an average score. It is possible to qualify for an unsecured or secured credit card.

Here are a few recommendations:

Card Name

Annual Rate

Annual Fee

Secured/Unsecured

Credit One Bank Visa

17.49% – 25.49% (Variable)

$99

Unsecured

Milestone Gold Mastercard

23.90%

$35-$99

Unsecured

Open Sky Secured Visa

18.64% (Variable)

$35

Secured

Discover it® Secured Card

24.49% (Variable)

$0

Secured

How To Improve A Credit Score of 565

There are many reasons to get started, and there are simple ways to go about it.

Be smart when shopping for a loan. Applying for several loans or credit cards in a row can drastically hurt your score. If you pace out your loan shopping in a three-week period, for example, there’s a good chance it won’t count against you.

Pay back your credit on time. Your credit score reflects how well you handle your money and how likely you are to repay a creditor, on time and within terms. Let your credit score communicate your reliability.

You can do it!

Let the experts atGo Clean Credit help you increase your score by more than 200 points! Our credit repair programs put you back on the path to financial success. Contact Go Clean Credit today!

When establishing credit people often wonder how to build credit fast. You might want to rent an apartment, buy a car, or apply for a job, or even buy a home, but if you have no credit or bad credit these action items might be affected. If you want to build credit fast it is important to understand that having good credit is a requirement as well. No matter what your income level is, everyone has the potential to achieve positive credit fast.

Here is a quick guide on how to build credit fast:

The breakdown of building positive credit is fairly simple. You borrow a certain amount of money from the lender of your choice and pay it back on schedule while keeping your balance low in relation to your card’s total credit limit. You can demonstrate you are a reliable borrower by paying on time every month. If you happen to stop paying or you pay late, lenders will send this negative information to the bureaus, which will result in bad credit information appearing on your credit report. If you want to build credit fast paying your bills on time is one way to do so. Having a good credit history will determine if lenders will be open to working with you.

Credit Cards

Another way you can potentially build credit fast is to keep your credit card balances low. More specifically you can do this by keeping your balance under 30% of your card’s total limit. For example, if your card has a $1,000 limit, do not carry an account balance of more than $300. If you are real with yourself and know you will use your card more than that each month there are a few hacks for having a lower balance. All you need to do is pay your balance down before lenders report it to the credit bureaus either on or before the statement closing date.

Credit Accounts & Loans

Additionally, you can potentially build positive credit fast by adding a variety of different credit products to your account. You can achieve this by adding a car loan, a credit card, a mortgage, or even adding another person to your account. Adding these different products will allow your score to be easier scored in comparison to someone who only uses a credit card. It is important to note when adding someone else to your credit is a potential risk to you.

Authorized User Option

Similarly, another easy way to build credit fast is to ask someone to be an authorized user on their credit card. When asking someone to add you as a user you can tell them that authorized-user cards do not require a credit inquiry, which means their credit score will not offer. If that person trusts you, you can ask to be authorized on multiple accounts. Make sure these accounts have the highest credit limits if you want to increase your credit score the most.

Start Building Credit Now

There are a few options you have when you decide to build your credit fast. Remember that having some credit is better than having no credit at all, so make sure you establish yourself with an account. You must have at least one open positive revolving account that you have used within the last 6 months in order to receive a good report. If you do not have an account with some type of history you are considered a credit risk. It is your responsibility to show you can handle something as important as credit.

No matter what your situation, Go Clean Credit has a solution. We have many credit repair programs that are available to help you overcome your credit situation and place you back on the path to financial success. Real credit restoration is not a one size fits all model and we tailor your needs to the right program, but most people can start for just $99 per month.

We have fixed price programs that get you back on track in as little as 5 months, debt resolution solutions, programs geared toward people who have had recent short sales or foreclosures and many others. Help is just a free phone call away or you can fill out an appointment request. Contact Go Clean Credit to schedule a free consultation today.

Although trying to quickly increase your credit score by 40 points might seem like a daunting task it can open a range of options. A 40 point increase could make a big difference when applying for an apartment, a car, or even a new job, so with some perseverance, you can potentially make a change in a short period of time.

Here are a few tips on how to quickly increase your credit score by 40 points:

1. Always make your monthly payments on time.

Improving your history of payments is a simple way to see your credit score rise. If you have an issue with lenders reporting you a day or two late, call them to see if they can change your on-time payment. This could be offered to you if you are not a frequent offender. The other option is to remove a late payment. You can try to file a dispute against the payment for inaccuracy. You can also call the original creditor and ask for a goodwill adjustment. If they do not allow you to add the adjustment you can negotiate by asking for automatic payments. This will show your interest in keeping up with monthly payments. The good thing is that the impact of past credit issues fades as time passes. Try to keep up with good payment patterns so your report will show you are handling your credit well.

2. Have positive information being reported on your credit report.

The most common way to have a good report is to have a credit card where you keep use low. You should make it a point to pay your statement balance on time every month in full. Another way you can keep a good report is have a card solely dedicated to paying your monthly bills such as rent, utilities, and electricity. This will make sure that you pay your debt every month and on time. You can also pay down the balances on your existing cards to get rid of the revolving debt. If you do not want to have a card dedicated to paying rent you can add your rental payment history to your credit report. If you do this make sure you pay your rent on time.

3. It is imperative to drop credit card debt altogether.

Around 30% of your score is due to the amount of credit card debt you are currently carrying. Once you cut this debt you will see an increase in your score within 30 to 60 days. Another way you can show that you are not a riskier borrower is pay your credit card balances as soon as you can before the due date. If you pay your debt before your monthly statement is due chances are your credit card company will report your reduced balances to credit bureaus. This will show that you are not risky and allow your scores to rise.

4. The last thing you can do is check your credit report for inaccuracies.

Even though you have three different reports from three different bureaus mistakes can still be made. If you have reported this information before always check your yearly statement to make sure the information has been changed. This is one of the main reasons for a declining score time and time again. Be sure to report any inaccuracies you found and do not give in until you see a change.

No matter what your situation, Go Clean Credit has a solution. We have many credit repair programs that are available to help you overcome your credit situation and place you back on the path to financial success. Real credit restoration is not a one size fits all model and we tailor your needs to the right program, but most people can start for just $99 per month.

We have fixed price programs that get you back on track in as little as 5 months, debt resolution solutions, programs geared toward people who have had recent short sales or foreclosures and many others. Help is just a free phone call away or you can fill out an appointment request. Contact Go Clean Credit to schedule a free consultation today.

A good credit score is vital to success. Whether it’s for a mortgage or a new credit card, having good credit is important for following your dreams.

Here’s how to raise a 620 credit score:

Making Payments on Time

Payment history is one of the most important factors for FICO Scores and can account for up to 35% of your score. Make sure all your accounts on current on payments. Late payments will remain on a credit report for up to seven years.

Keeping Your Credit Balances Low

Your balance-to-limit ratio is calculated by dividing the total of your balances by the total of your credit limits. Ideally, you want to pay your credit card off each month, but if that’s not possible be sure to keep your credit utilization rate around 30% or less.

A rule of thumb is to never have utilization rates of more than 30% on any one card or in total. People with the highest credit scores tend to have a utilization rate of less than 10 percent.

Check Your Credit Report Risk Factors

After requesting a copy of your credit scores, you’ll see they come with a list of factors most likely to affect your score. These risk factors will help show you what changes you can make. Once you have that list, you can easily follow it to better your score.

Negotiate with Creditors

Many creditors are willing to negotiate if you are making an effort to pay your bills as soon as possible. Avoiding creditors and continuously missing payments will continue to have a negative impact on your score.

If the last time you’ve made a late payment was more than six months ago and you’ve been paying on time since then, the creditor may be open to remove the late payment, allowing your score to boost quickly.

Raising a credit score of 620 is possible with a plan. These steps could increase your score by 75 or more points in 30 days and qualify you for much better interest rates.

No matter what your situation, Go Clean Credit has a solution. We have many credit repair programs that are available to help you overcome your credit situation and place you back on the path to financial success. Real credit restoration is not a once size fits all model and we tailor your needs to the right program, but most people can start for just $99 per month.

We have fixed price programs that get you back on track in as little as 5 months, debt resolution solutions, programs geared toward people who have had recent short sales or foreclosures and many others. Help is just a free phone call away or you can fill out an appointment request. Contact Go Clean Credit to schedule a free consultation today.

Finding a legitimate credit repair company can be a particularly arduous task. It can be difficult determining which companies you can trust, and which ones are merely scams interested in swindling misinformed persons. Fortunately, there are legitimate credit repair companies that exist, and several of them conduct business in the Phoenix area.

Here is a list of legitimate credit repair companies in Phoenix, AZ:

Go Clean Credit

Go Clean Credit has helped thousands of people restore their credit since 2003. Go Clean Credit works directly with individuals to ensure their credit is repaired in the most efficient way possible. Furthermore, their sole mission is your success. They understand it is extremely difficult to trust a credit repair company. Fortunately, Go Clean Credit has credit repair experts that will sit down with you and go over your credit issues step-by-step. That’s how they have earned a perfect 5/5 business rating on Facebook and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google reviews.

Credit World Financial Services

At Credit World Financial Services, credit experts are committed to challenging negative information on your credit report. Credit World Financial Services has offered credit repair services for over 12 years. They understand that every profile has its own specific needs, and are willing to tailor a plan of action to best suit your case.

Credit Absolute

On average, Credit Absolute improves credit scores typically 30 to 100 points in one to three months. Their team looks into each personalized case to help you get back on track with your finances. In addition, Credit Absolute provides a complimentary credit audit to review your various options and explain how credit repair works.

Truly Fair Credit

The Truly Fair Credit program relies on three key ideas: proven results, accountability, and service. Based on their multiple-year statistical average, Truly Fair Credit deletes 47.07% of their clients’ bad credit within the first 30 days. Truly Fair Credit also offers a warranty to guarantee customer satisfaction. Truly Fair Credit will pursue every negative creditor and credit bureau to ensure your credit repair.

To learn more about legitimate credit repair companies in Phoenix, Arizona, reach out to Go Clean Credit. We can answer any questions you may have about the credit repair process, and help you repair your poor credit.

No matter what your situation, Go Clean Credit has a solution. We have many credit repair programs that are available to help you overcome your credit situation and place you back on the path to financial success. Real credit restoration is not a once size fits all model and we tailor your needs to the right program, but most people can start for just $99 per month.

We have fixed price programs that get you back on track in as little as 5 months, debt resolution solutions, programs geared toward people who have had recent short sales or foreclosures and many others. Help is just a free phone call away or you can fill out an appointment request. Contact Go Clean Credit to schedule a free consultation today.

Are you trying to raise your credit score, but feel lost? Are you struggling to find the right people to do the job? Luckily, we have compiled a list of the top credit repair companies in Phoenix, Arizona, to help guide you.

Top Credit Repair Companies in Phoenix, Arizona

Go Clean Credit

Go Clean Credit has offered personalized credit correction services as one of the top credit repair companies in Phoenix. Restoring your credit can be an intimidating task. Thankfully, Go Clean Credit takes a hands-on approach to meet your needs. Go Clean Credit is a trusted and reliable source, ready to help you deal with all of your credit-related issues. Additionally, Go Clean Credit utilizes a client-centered approach that pairs credit restoration with credit education to keep you on the correct path. Go Clean Credit is one of the top credit repair companies in Phoenix for good reason!

Credit World Financial Services

At Credit World Financial Services, they understand that every profile is unique and every person has a different story. They have offered credit services for 12 years. Additionally, they are committed to challenging negative information on your credit report. They also work to resolve any debt, re-establish credit, address student loans, and more. For these reasons and many more, this is why Credit World Financial Services is one of the top credit repair companies in Phoenix.

Lexington Law

Lexington Law prides itself on making the credit repair process easy and effective for their respective clients. Most clients have seen an average of 10.2 items removed within 4 months. Lexington Law has been around for 26 years, and helps clients gain reports from three major credit bureaus. Legal workers will direct your issues to the appropriate creditors and credit bureaus.

Phoenix Credit Repair & Debt Consolidation Services

If you want a credit repairer whose faiths align with yours, Phoenix Credit Repair & Debt Consolidation Services is a company that puts their morals at the forefront of the credit repair process. In addition, they offer free consultations, and paired with their video tutorials, it makes the process simple. There are also various packages that allow you to choose the best price that suits your needs. Although Phoenix Credit Repair & Debt Consolidation Services may not be the most typical of credit repair companies in Phoenix, they get the job done.

To learn more about the top credit repair companies in Phoenix, Arizona, contact Go Clean Credit! We can help you achieve your financial goals. What are you waiting for? Call Go Clean Credit now to schedule a free consultation!

No matter what your situation, Go Clean Credit has a solution. We have many credit repair programs that are available to help you overcome your credit situation and place you back on the path to financial success. Real credit restoration is not a once size fits all model and we tailor your needs to the right program, but most people can start for just $99 per month.

We have fixed price programs that get you back on track in as little as 5 months, debt resolution solutions, programs geared toward people who have had recent short sales or foreclosures and many others. Help is just a free phone call away or you can fill out an appointment request. Contact Go Clean Credit to schedule a free consultation today.

Credit Repair, Credit Scores, and Loans

Whether you’re a civilian or military member, most lenders require a minimum credit score of 620 to 640 to receive approval on a loan. In this article, you’ll learn more about how credit works for veterans, potential loan options, and how to repair a credit score to meet your financial goals.

First, Research All of Your Options.

Before we dive into credit scores and how it works. Let’s talk about the potential uses of a credit score, acquiring a loan. Understanding all of your options when seeking a loan is key to getting the best deal possible. Even veterans with fantastic credit and a 20% down payment may benefit from comparison shopping between conventional and VA loans.

Federal Benefits — Personal or Business?

Interested in buying a home? Veterans are eligible for VA home loans, which often require no down payment, no mortgage insurance, and have flexible underwriting requirements. An excellent resource to look into is the Veterans Benefits Administration website.

Assess Your Finances.

Consider all factors beyond your status as a veteran when making money decisions. The right choice for you will align with your current financial situation and goals. What are your financial plans for the next 6 months to a year? What financial habits are you looking to strengthen or stop? Make sure you’re financial goals and habits are leading you in the right direction.

Understanding Your Credit Score.

Part of assessing your financial plan includes reviewing your current credit score. The Fair, Isaacs Corporation, also known as FICO, created an algorithm for all three major credit agencies to use when calculating credit scores. This method creates your credit score by reviewing five different categories, with each category weighted. See below for details:

Credit Score Categories — Let’s Talk About Payment History.

Your payment history affects your credit score the most out of all other areas. The scoring algorithm determines if the borrower’s payments were on time and if they weren’t, how late they were. Late payments are categorized by more than 30 days late, more than 60 and more than 90. For each category, the algorithm drops the score more.

Where Does Available Credit Come In?

Your available credit is determined based on the number of outstanding credit accounts you have compared to the credit limit assigned to each account. The ideal amount of credit to use is around 30 percent of any credit limit. Scores typically improve when having a balance around this percentage. However, if an account has a zero balance, it will have little impact on your score.

Keep in mind, having a balance of more than 30 percent will result in your credit score falling.

Quick Credit Repair Options

The quickest way to repair credit scores is to focus on available credit and payment history. Make sure credit payments are consistently on time or paid no later than 30 days past due. Paying outstanding credit balances down to 30 percent of the available credit will help, too.

No matter what your situation, Go Clean Credit has a solution. We have many credit repair programs that are available to help you overcome your credit situation and place you back on the path to financial success. Real credit restoration is not a one size fits all model and we tailor your needs to the right program. Help is just a free phone call away or you can fill out an appointment request.

Class-Action Lawsuits Against Equifax

This last week, you may have heard the Senate voted to block consumers from suing Equifax as a class. There were approximately 143 million people whose personal information exposed during the data breach. And have already been more than two dozen lawsuits in federal court against Equifax.

In response to the data breach, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) presented a rule barring the use of forced arbitration and restored the ability of people to file group lawsuits. The rule prevented financial companies that bind users by arbitration agreements from prohibiting those users from suing as a class.

How To Protect Yourself From A Data Breach

While class-action lawsuits may be out of the picture, there are still a few ways you can protect yourself from suspected identity theft and future identity theft.

Credit Monitoring

Consider signing up for credit monitoring if you do not already have it! You’ll receive alerts if there are any changes to your credit. We usually recommend this site, which monitors all three credit bureaus.

Once you begin receiving credit updates, you’ll be able to monitor for any suspicious activity being reported. When signing up for credit monitoring check for trial periods and cancellation requirements to avoid unexpected fees and limitations.

Place a Security Freeze on your Credit Report

A security freeze on your credit report helps prevent accounts from being opened in your name. All new accounts requested will be declined, and you will only be able to work with your current creditors.

You can place a “freeze” on your credit file by contacting each credit reporting company.

Fraud Alerts

When you suspect your credit may have been compromised a fraud alert lets creditors and lenders know, this lasts up to 90 days. It’s something to consider when looking to protect your identity. It can also help prevent future theft.

To add a fraud alert, you’ll want to contact each bureau below by phone or online to each of your credit files.

Extended fraud alerts are another form of protection to consider and lasts up to seven years. It requires creditors to contact you through the phone number, or another contact method you designate, to verify you’re the person making a credit request.

Contact us immediately if there is any new activity you don’t recognize or with any questions on how to protect yourself further.

No matter what your situation, Go Clean Credit has a solution. We have many credit repair programs that are available to help you overcome your credit situation and place you back on the path to financial success. Real credit restoration is not a one size fits all model and we tailor your needs to the right program. Help is just a free phone call away or you can fill out an appointment request.